EPA grant supports environmental education at Virginia camp

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded a $12,000 environmental education grant to Camp Kum-Ba-Yah Inc. in Lynchburg, Va. to help expand the camp’s field work study program for elementary school students.

The camp will use funds to set up a program for students in grades three through five, with an emphasis on providing students with hands-on experience interacting with the environment. The program will create a partnership with area elementary schools, college students with environmental and education experience, faculty members and an experienced environmentalist.

“It is so important for EPA to support environmental education programs like this that provide youngsters valuable hands-on experience that helps them learn how they can have a lasting impact on protecting the environment,” said Donald S. Welsh, administrator for EPA’s mid-Atlantic region.

Since 1992, EPA has provided almost $3 million annually in environmental education grants to local organizations, schools and government agencies nationwide. This funding supports a wide range of environmental issues for citizens of all ages.

Visit http://epa.gov/enviroed/grants.html to find out more about EPA’s environmental education grants and online resources for communities, educators, and children.